Rob Yeldham's petulant outburst in last week's News Shopper beggars belief. Of course, Bromley Council should complain about declining Police numbers and it would be failing in its duty to local residents if it ignored the problem.

The real spin merchant is Mr Yeldham, a former Labour Councillor close to Millbank, who is seeking to distract our attention from the big po-licing picture under New Labour.

Has he forgotten the closure of our local police stations in Chislehurst and West Wickham and the 160 plus stations closed nationally?

Has he forgotten that the Labour Government has had 5 years to get police numbers back up yet across London we are still desperately short?

Has he forgotten the unprecedented levels of violent crime and criminal damage we have seen in recent years?

If the government had been doing its job properly and keeping the Force up to strength then Bromley Police could spare some officers up in Cen-tral London.

The reality is that too few bobbies means undeterred crime in our neighbourhood and the crime wave continues.

Any solutions Mr Yeldham?

Rod Reed

Foxgrove Avenue

Beckenham*

December 5, 2001 13:10